Holding attachment for bottle caps



June 10, 1958 N. LEGMAN 2,838,209

HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR BOTTLE CAPS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 F17 5 INVENTOR. NATHAN LEGMAN United States Patent HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR BOTTLE CAPS Nathan Legman, New York, N. Y.

Application December 5, 1956, Serial No. 626,381

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-180) This invention relates to new and useful improvements 'in closure and dispensing caps for bottles and other containers. e

. More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved closure and dispensing cap device which can easily and removably be secured to a bottle or other container to provide a pouring spout which is always closed when the container is upright and which is automatically opened when the container is tilted into a pouring position.

. As a further object, the invention proposes forming the cap device with a counterweight bifurcated closure yoke having a rear extension for attaching a hanging cord so that a container on which the device is mounted can be hung by the cord and the pouring spout will always be closed when the container is so suspended but will automatically open when the suspending pressure is released and the container is raised and tilted into a pouring position.

Still further, the invention proposes constructing the cap device of plastic material or the like with the cap having a long pouring spout withtrunnions and the yoke having when the spout is upright as shown in Fig. 2.

resiliently spreadable legs with openings pivotally and remova-bly to receive the trunnions.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and

to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a bathroom with a shower and shower curtain rod from which is suspended a shampoo bottle with a closure and dispensing cap device constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the bottle and cap device shown in Fig. 1 in upright position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but with the bottle tilted into pouring position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a modified form of suspension cord.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of yoke.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of another modified form of yoke.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the cap device of the present invention in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Cap device 15 has a cap 16 of plastic or the like removably attached to a bottle or container 17 having a neck 18 with screw threads 19 (Fig. 5) or other attach- A pair of trunnions 25 and 26 extend outwardly from the pouring spout 20 on the sides of the spout. Preferably. the trunnions are formed integrally with the spout.

'Pivotally mounted on the trunnions 25 and 26 is a yoke 27 of resilient plastic material or the like having a pair of spaced arms 28 and 29 dependent from a central or top closure portion 30 of the yoke. The arms 28 and 29 have opposed trunnion bearing openings 31 and 32, respectively, along their longitudinal axes and the trunnions 25 and 26 are disposed along the longitudinal axis of the pouring spout. Arms 28 and 29 are resiliently spreadable for removable and pivotable mounting on the trunnions.

The central closure or bight portion 30 of the yoke has an inner surface matching that of the beveled lip of the pouring spout and also has a rearward extension 33 with a slotted cord opening 34, removably and slidably to secure a hanging cord 36 having a knotted lower end 37.

Arms 28 and 29 have forwardly extending counterweighted lever portions 38 and 39 at their free ends normally to hold the yoke 27 (furcrummed on the trunnions) pivoted with the closure portion 30 over the outer pouring end opening 21 of the pouring spout 20, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, when the bottle is not in the tilted pouring position shown in Fig. 6.

Operation of the device is simple. The cap is secured to bottle 17 and the bottle may be suspended by a cord 36 from a shower curtain 37 as shown in Fig. 1. As long as the bottle is suspended by the cord, the downward pull of the bottle with its contents and the upward pull of the cord on the rear extension 33 of the yoke closure portion 30 of the yoke 27 press the closure portion 30 into interlocking engagement with the front edge 23 of the spout 20 thereby preventing relative movement between the spout and yoke and holding the yoke on the spout in spout-closing position. If the pulling pressure is released andthe bottle is manually raised, the counterweighted lever portions 38 and 39 of the arms 28 and 29, respectively,'continue to hold the yoke in spout-closing position. However, the beveled shape of the discharge and of the spout and the similar shape of the yoke closure portion 30 permit the bottle to be tilted with the front edge 23 of the spout 20 disposed downwardly whereby the yoke 27 automatically pivots carrying its closure portion 30 away from the discharge end of the spout 20 to uncover the discharge opening in said end as shown in Fig.6 to permit the contents of the bottle to be poured. However, the interlock between the front edge 23 and the yoke closure portion 30 prevents pivoting of the yoke 27 to spout-opening position when the bottle is tilted with the front edge 23 of the spout 20 disposed upwardly as shown in Fig. 6.

Upon returning the bottle to the upright position of Fig. 2 from the pouring position of Fig. 6, the weighted lever extensions 38 and 39 of the side arms 28 and 29, respectively, automatically swing the yoke into normal spoutclosin-g position.

It will be understood that when the bottle or container 17 is resting upon a shelf or other flat supporting surface, no cord is necessary and the cap device 15 is normally held in spout-closing position.

In Fig. 7, the suspension cord 36 is provided with a beaded chain 40 to facilitate attachment of the cord to the extension 33 of the yoke 27. The portions of the chain between the beads may readily be slid in between the edges of the slot 34 in-extension 33 to tie the cord to the yoke.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is characterized by the provision of a yoke 59 having a central closure portion 51 witha rearward extension 52 having a cord opening 53 and an access slot 54. Yoke also has two spaced resiliently spreadable arms 55 and 56 each with a trunnion opening 57 and with forwardly extending counterweighted levers 53 and 59 accentuated and curved as shown in rocker fashion.

The modified form of yoke 69 shown in Fig. 9 differs from the form shown in Fig. 8 in that the forwardly extending levers 61 and 62 are formed with enlargements 63 and 64, respectively, on their outer surfaces, to provide added weight thereto. The invention contemplates that additional weighted members of similar shape as the enlargements 63 and 64 might be secured to the outer surfaces of said enlargements in any suitable manner.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent other containers comprising a cap having a pouring spout with an outer pouring end opening, a pair of trunnions on the pouring spout, and a yoke having a closure portion with two dependent arms pivotally mounted on the trunnions, said arms having forwardly extending counterweight lever portions normally to hold the yoke pivoted with the l. A closure and dispensing cap device for bottles and closure portion of the yoke having an inner-surfacematching the surface of the beveled lip of the pouring spout, said arms of the yoke having trunnion openings along their longitudinal axes to receive said trunnions and said trunnions being disposed along the longitudinal axis of the pouring spout, said yoke being of stifily flexible material with the arms resiliently spreadable for removable mounting on the trunnions.

2. A closure and dispensing cap device for bottles and other containers comprising a cap having a pouring spout with an outer pouring end opening, a pair of trunnions on the pouring spout, and a yoke having a closure portion with two dependent arms pivotally mounted on the trunclosure portion of the yoke over the outer pouring end opening the spout, said closure portion of the yoke having a rearward extension with an opening therein and a hanging cord in said latter opening for suspending the bottle, said pouring spout extending outwardly from the cap and having a beveled lip at the outer pouring end opening with a front edge higher than the rear edge, said nions, said arms having forwardly extending counterweight lever portions normally to hold the yoke pivoted with the closure portion of the yoke over the outer pouring end opening of the spout, said closure portion of the yoke having a rearward extension, said pouring spout extending outwardly from the cap and having a beveled lip at the outer pouring end opening with a front edge higher than the rear edge, said closure portion of the yoke having an inner surface matching the surface of the beveled lip of the pouring spout, said arms of the yoke having trunnion openings along their longitudinal axes and said trunnions being disposed along the longitudinal axis of the pouring spout, said yoke being of stifily flexible material with the arms resiliently spreadable for removable mount ing on the trunnions, said rearward extension of the closure portion of the yoke having a hanging cord opening with an access slot opening removably and slidahly to secure a hanging cord having a knotted lower end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,837 Sykes -s Apr. 13, 1897 726,545 Langstatf Apr. 28, 1903 2,009,552 Jaen July 30, 1935 2,543,432 Boxer Feb. 27, 1951 2,755,975 Sundberg July 24, 1956 2,762,521 Kipp Sept; 11, 1956 

